Molecular engineering of lysosome-based degraders unveils a rapidly expanding therapeutic strategy

Abstract

The targeted degradation of oncogenic or misfolded proteins has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy. While proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) and related technologies have successfully hijacked the ubiquitin-proteasome system to eliminate disease-driving proteins, recent advances highlight the lysosome as a powerful alternative degradation route. Lysosome-based degradation strategies offer broader substrate scope, subcellular targeting flexibility, and the ability to degrade proteins beyond the reach of the proteasome. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of synthetic molecules and engineered systems designed to traffic target proteins to the lysosome. These include lysosome targeting chimeras (LYTACs), autophagy-targeting chimeras (AUTACs), autophagy-tethering compounds (ATTECs), and other modalities that exploit endogenous trafficking pathways for selective protein clearance. By mapping the current landscape of lysosome-targeting degraders, this article underscores the therapeutic potential of lysosomal proteolysis and outlines future directions for molecular engineering in this rapidly evolving field.